Swiss court OKs return of $4.6M to Duvalier clan

Swiss court OKs return of $4.6M to Duvalier clan

The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 3, 2010; 6:11 AM

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Switzerland's highest court has ruled that $4.6 million seized from bank accounts linked to Haiti's former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier can be handed over to his family.

The decision reverses a ruling by a lower court that the money should have gone to aid groups working in the impoverished nation.

The Federal Tribunal issued its decision hours before the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti but only published it Wednesday.

Many in Haiti consider that money to be stolen from public funds. Duvalier was ousted in 1986.

The court said its hands were tied because the alleged crimes fell outside the statute of limitations.

It urged lawmakers to make it easier to return dictator's money to countries.